Improvement in the construction of bridges



WITNESS ES:

iNVENTORI 5 /fmin Bridges; and I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Z. KING, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 45,051, dated November15, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Z. KING, of Cleveland, in the county of GnyahogaandState of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements do herebydeclare that the following is a full and complete description of theconstruction and operation of the same,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis aplan view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an end view.. Fig. 4shows the under side, and Fig. 5 is a section in the direction of theline x x in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, A. represents the needlebeams and B the chords. Theseare both made of plate-iron, riveted together in the same manner as is asteam-boiler. Both the beams and chords are tubular. The ends of thebeams are nearly square, but they are deeper or rectangular in themiddle. The chords B are rectangular in form, (in section,) as in Fig.5. For a bridge of one hundred and eighty feet span they should be abouta foot in width, about six feet high in the middle, and tapering tow ardthe ends to about one foot or more.

The needle-beams are placed about ten feet apart, and pass through thechords B, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, and to which they are firmlysecured by the angle-irons O, which are firmly riveted both to the chordB and beam A upon the inner side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. y

D represents lateral braces. They are made of heavy iron-rods, and arepassed diagonally in both ways between the needle-beams A, as seen inFigs. 1 and 4, and are drawn tight by nuts on each end. The needle-beamsA extend through upon one or both sides of the chord B a sufficientdistance for a sidewalk, or this may be omitted. The stringers or joistsupon which the plank for the track are placed may be laid upon orattached to the beams A in any convenient manner.

The bridge rests upon a pier in the center, which forms a turn-table,Il, when used for navigable streams, but for streams that are not so theends may rest upon piers or abut ments upon each side of the stream.

When the bridge is constructed to rest upon a turn-table, the middleportion or section should be vstrengthened by the introduction makingpart of this specification,

of additional beams, F G, and also, if desired, by double plates anddiagonal vertical braces, or by a tower rising fromv the center of eachchord, as shown in Fig. 2 at H, the ends of the chord being supported bylong braces or rods I, as shown in the figure.

When great strength is required, three chords may be used instead oftWo, having a track upon each side of the center one.

The bearings of the truck-Wheels J are attached to the beams A, F, andG, or to other parts, as may be most convenient.

The plates used in the construction of bridges of this kind are all cutto the proper pattern, and the holes for the bolts and rivets properlypunched, asl in the manufacture of steam-boilers.

I do not deem it important to confine myself in the construction of thisbridge to the proportions here shown and described, for these may bealmost indefinitely varied Without in any manner changing the generalprinciple of the invention.

In a structure of this kind it would, of course, be impracticable tomake the sides or other parts of the chord or needle-beams of one pieceof plate, and hence the necessity of uniting many by rivets, as inboiler-making.

The upper and lower plates of both beams and chords are formed byturning both edges at right angles, as shown at B in Fig. 5, so that theriveting is upon the outside of the parts named. The end pieces, A', arecurved so as to form the are of a circle whose radius is from the centerpin, K, in the center pin, F G.

What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. The beams A and chords B, in combination, when the beams A passthrough chords B and are secured in the manner and for the purposesubstantially as specified.

2. The beams F and G and braces D, in combination with the beams A andchords B, the several parts being constructed and secured togethersubstantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. The towers H, in combination with the chords B and beams A, F, and G,when constructed substantially as set forth.

Z. KING. Witnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE,

I. HOLMES.

